Astemizole Can Help Fight Malaria

Antihistamine Identified as Potential Antimalarial Drug. ‘The allergy medication astemizole could have another life as a potential treatment for malaria, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The study, largely funded by the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute (MRI), determined that in a test tube the antihistamine killed the parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, which causes malaria in humans, including parasite strains that were resistant to traditional malaria therapies. The drug was also shown to be effective in mouse models. The findings are published in the July 2, 2006, advanced online edition of Nature Chemical Biology.’

Malaria Foundation International (MFI). ‘The Malaria Foundation International is a non profit organization that has been dedicated to the fight against malaria since 1992. The MFI’s goals are to support awareness, education, training, research, and leadership programs for the immediate and long term development and application of tools to combat malaria. The MFI works in partnership with individuals and groups who have joined this cause.’

Wikipedia: Astemizole. ‘Astemizole (marketed under the brand name Hismanal) is a second generation antihistamine drug which has a long duration of action. It has been withdrawn from the market in most countries because of rare but potentially fatal interactions with CYP34A enzyme inhibitors.’